Radio host Andrea Lawfull Sanders, who interviewed President Biden on Wednesday, revealed during the CNN debate that the president’s team provided him with a list of questions to approve before the interview.
CNN host Victor Blackwell said Saturday he listened to both interviews and the questions were “basically the same” in both. Biden spoke with Sanders, who hosts “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia, and Earl Ingram, who hosts “The Earl Ingram Show” on WMCS in Milwaukee.
“The questions were sent to me for approval, and I approved them,” Sanders said. Blackwell noted that the questions in both speeches covered Sanders’ record, his performance in the debates, progress in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, election issues and a message to voters who are considering not voting in the presidential election.
Blackwell continued, “So did the White House send you questions in advance of the interview?”
Radio host Andrea Lawfull Sanders said on CNN that the Biden campaign sent her questions ahead of the interview. (Screenshot/CNN)
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“Yes, I was asked a few questions. Eight. The four that were selected were the ones I approved,” Sanders continued.
“It is not unusual for interviewees to share their favorite topics. These questions related to the news of the day and the President was asked about his performance in the debate and what he has done for Black Americans. We do not make the interview a condition of accepting these questions and hosts are free to ask the questions they believe will best serve their listeners. In addition to these interviews, the President also participated in a press conference and an interview with ABC yesterday. Since the debate, Americans have had the opportunity to view several unscripted interviews with him,” Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt told Fox News Digital in a statement.
Blackwell said Biden’s team wasn’t helping demonstrate the president’s “vitality” by sending out questions in advance.
“The reason I ask the question is not to criticize either of you, but simply because if the White House is trying to demonstrate the vitality, energy and insight of the president right now, I don’t know how they’re doing that by sending the questions ahead of the interview so the president knows what’s coming,” Blackwell said.
President Joe Biden watches as he participates in and debates the first presidential candidates for the 2024 election with former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at CNN studios in Atlanta, Georgia, June 27, 2024. (Andrew Caballero Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
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Sanders He told The Washington Post She never felt pressured to ask any particular questions.
“When I was asked to do this interview, what was most important to me was that Black voices were heard. I never felt pressured to ask specific questions,” Sanders said. “I chose the questions that mattered most to the Black and brown communities that we serve in Philadelphia, and those questions were exactly what Black and brown communities wanted.”
Blackwell also shared excerpts from Biden’s interview with Sanders, particularly in which he answers questions about his record of success.
“As I said, I’m proud to be the first vice president and the first Black woman to serve with a Black president,” Biden said in the interview.
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“If you listen to these interviews, it’s abundantly clear what the president meant. This would be considered completely normal speech for the rest of America, and it has certainly been normal for Joe Biden throughout his career,” a campaign official told Fox News Digital of Biden’s comments.
In a separate interview with CNN, Ingraham said her audience believes Biden should continue to campaign.
“My phone lines were completely jammed this morning as we discussed and debated for two hours whether this is something that should happen, and I can tell you that the vast majority of the audience believes this should stay put and that it would be a huge mistake for Democrats to try to force this on them as well as Joe Biden,” Ingraham said.
Biden also spoke with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Friday, telling viewers he intends to continue campaigning.
Following the CNN debate, calls for Biden to drop out of the race continue to grow.
